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If you’re looking for a taste of Costa Rica’s world-class highlights but want to keep things spicy with a sampling of hidden treasures, this action-packed adventure tops the menu. In spite of its small size, Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world with volcanoes, wildlife, rainforests, and beaches to explore. This adventure offers a great balance of guided excursions and free time. Optional activities abound — choose to get your adrenaline pumping or take it easy with a stroll through a butterfly garden.

Itinerary

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Day 1: San José

Arrive at any time.

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Day 2: San José/Quepos

Travel to Quepos and enjoy a couple days of relaxing and exploring Manuel Antonio National Park.The small town of Quepos is on the Pacific Coast and this region of Costa Rica is a great place to relax and enjoy the sun and nearby sea. A short distance away, Manuel Antonio National Park offers beautiful white-sand beaches and warm turquoise water, ideal for swimming, fishing, kayaking, boogie boarding, sailing or surfing.

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Day 3: Quepos

Enjoy a free day in the Manuel Antonio region to explore and relax. Opt go kayaking through mangroves, take a surf lesson or cruise along the coast on a dolphin-spotting sunset sailing excursion.

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Day 4: Quepos/Monteverde

Travel from Quepos to Monteverde and into the cool mountain air of the area. Take an included guided night walk to learn about nocturnal life in the cloud forest firsthand.Ascend to the Monteverde cloud forest region. Spend a couple of days exploring the town and a cloud forest reserve, truly a bird lover's paradise. This unique community has several cooperatives worth visiting.

Optional activities include the Sky Walk, a series of suspension bridges through the jungle canopy, a butterfly garden and a thrilling canopy zipline.

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Day 5: Monteverde

Enjoy a free day to explore the cloud forest region of Costa Rica. Opt to fly across canopy ziplines or tour a coffee plantation.

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Day 6: Monteverde/La Fortuna

Travel from Monteverde to La Fortuna. Enjoy free time for optional activities such as whitewater rafting, waterfall rappelling, or relaxing in local hot springs.La Fortuna, the town near the foot of Arenal Volcano is an excellent base for adventure. Hike the area's nature trails, swim in chilly La Fortuna waterfall or go canyoneering (rappelling) and catch a bird's eye view of the forest greenery.

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Day 7: La Fortuna

Enjoy two free days in La Fortuna. Optional activities abound.Optional activities include full-day whitewater rafting on the Toro or Arenal Rivers, mountain biking, caving, horseback riding, or a tour of the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Like much of Costa Rica, the area is a birders' paradise, with over 600 species as permanent residents. Finally, after a long day of exploring, you can choose to take a relaxing soak at Baldi Hot Springs.

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Day 8: La Fortuna

Enjoy two free days in La Fortuna. Optional activities abound.Optional activities include full-day whitewater rafting on the Toro or Arenal Rivers, mountain biking, caving, horseback riding, or a tour of the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Like much of Costa Rica, the area is a birders' paradise, with over 600 species as permanent residents. Finally, after a long day of exploring, you can choose to take a relaxing soak at Baldi Hot Springs.

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Day 9: La Fortuna/Sarapiquí Rainforest

Enjoy an included visit to a G Adventures-supported coffee cooperative with a local lunch before heading to a jungle oasis in the Sarapiquí Rainforest.Visit a coffee cooperative in the small village of San Miguel de Sarapiquí and take a traditional coffee tour. Enjoy a local lunch here— there's even fresh tilapia farmed on site— and then tour the grounds of the cooperative to learn about the coffee process from bean to cup.

Next, board a tractor-drawn cart excellent for navigating the jungle along rugged uphill terrain on the way to our special jungle oasis.

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Day 10: Sarapiquí Rainforest

Enjoy a day in the beautiful Sarapiquí Valley. Optional activities (all included in our overnight package, weather-depending) include swimming in the river, night walks, an empanada-making lesson or lounging in a hammock.

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Day 11: Sarapiquí Rainforest/Tortuguero

Head to Tortuguero. Opt to visit the nesting grounds of the green and leatherback turtles at night (seasonal).The journey to Tortuguero is half the adventure. Begin by taking a tractor-drawn cart, board a private van, and finish it off with a journey by boat.

This unique village has walking paths that extend into the national park, a fantastic place to see wildlife even when turtles aren't in season.

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Day 12: Tortuguero

Enjoy free time to explore Tortuguero. Opt to kayak through the canals and view the wildlife, wake up early and head to the beach to watch turtle eggs hatch (seasonal), or just wander through the town.

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Day 13: Tortuguero/Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Head to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. Opt to snorkel in the Caribbean, hike in Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, or rent a bike to hit the beach.A morning boat ride and drive ends in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, with spectacular scenery en route. This seaside town is perfect for relaxing or exploring the Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge.

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Day 14: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

With free time here, head out and explore. Don't forget to try some fantastic Afro-Caribbean cuisine.The picturesque village of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca's 14 kms of incomparable white- and black-sand beaches are surrounded by exotic tropical vegetation.

Opt to rent a bike, hike to Monkey Point, go snorkelling or take it easy and explore La Isla Botanical Gardens.

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Day 15: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca/San José

Enjoy free time in the morning before heading back to San Jose for the final night with the group.Take a bus ride over the mountains back to the capital.

The tour was awesome. I really feel like I got to see many different types of environments in Costa Rica.

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Marianne V Posted on:

I enjoyed the trip very much, great group, nice guide and we saw sooooo much.

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Jessica F Posted on:

It was such a great tour. Saw so much of Costa Rica in only two weeks and G Adventures made it easy!

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Tania W Posted on:

Wonderful experience! Met all my expectations and then some.

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Alexander D Posted on:

The tour was more than anything I could have expected. It covered the main areas of the country, allowing you to get a good feel for Costa Rica. It was very well organized but allowed you to have the freedom of doing your own thing. My favorite bit about the trip was that it had a good mix of things to do, from staying in the middle of the jungle to relaxing on the beach. We also had a great group of people.

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Deirdre D Posted on:

As a previously solo only traveler, I found this trip to be a perfect group travel experience. Lots to explore, tons of high adventure, great food and fun with happy new friends!

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Kathrin W Posted on:

It was great, a little bit of everything: adventure, fun, beach, down time, nature, towns, good food, good company. I had a very enjoyable holiday.

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Sandra M Posted on:

I really liked the small group and the varied backgrounds and ages of the group. It was a good length too.

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Kelley F Posted on:

Quite physically demanding, but that was good! It was a very active tour. Guide, Jessica Schang, was FABULOUS!

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Anne S Posted on:

I met a fantastic group of people, diverse in ages, occupations and interests. I did things I had long wanted to do and with encouragement from the group did things I never thought I could do. I was impressed that I did not have to do any planning I was completely free to enjoy the experience and therefore able to make the absolute most of every day.

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